Visit Maldives celebrated the inaugural direct flight from Fujian Province, China, to the Maldives. A special ceremony took place on February 14, at Velana International Airport, marking the arrival of Xiamen Airlines flight MF8017 with tourists from Fujian Province to the Maldives.

The tourists were welcomed with a lively traditional BoduBeru performance and offered a special gift pack, which included flowers. Among the dignitaries present were H.E Ambassador Wang Lixin, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Maldives, along with representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Immigration, Maldives Customs Service, and various other government entities and tourism associations in the Maldives.

China has consistently been a pivotal market for the Maldives tourism industry. The reinstatement of direct flights from China to the Maldives on January 18, 2023, greatly bolstered tourist numbers last year, with over 187,125 visitors from China exploring the Maldives, cementing its status as one of the top three source markets. Notably, on January 19 of this year, we celebrated the first direct flight from Hong Kong to the Maldives since 2020, contributing significantly to the surge in Chinese visitors to our destination. Furthermore, the Maldives achieved a remarkable milestone of the highest number of tourist arrivals in a single day on February 12, 2024. This surge in arrivals is largely attributed to the increasing number of tourists from China, reaffirming its position as the leading source market for the Maldives.

Visit Maldives continuously promotes the Maldives as the ultimate destination in the Chinese market through strategic marketing efforts. Last year, the Maldives reached its highest-ever tourist arrivals, exceeding 1.8 million visitors. MMPRC has mapped out various activities for the Chinese market this year, such as an e-learning campaign, digital promotions on popular Chinese apps, outdoor marketing initiatives, collaborative promotional campaigns, familiarization trips, social media initiatives, and active involvement in fairs and exhibitions.

The commencement of direct flights from Fujian Province to the Maldives, coupled with focused marketing efforts in the Chinese market, will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the Maldives' tourism industry and strengthen its position as the preferred destination for Chinese travelers.